Sauber’s Head of Track Engineering Giampaolo Dall’Ara is set for the start of the European season to begin with next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.

The team is set to launch a series of major upgrades to its so-far troubled C33 racers, which have proven to be both overweight and unreliable in the opening four flyaway rounds.

“At the Spanish Grand Prix, both C33’s will have essential revisions, following an extensive weight reduction and a significant aerodynamic update. This updates consists of a modified front wing and a new engine cover, new side-pod fins and deflectors, as well as a number of other aerodynamic changes,” he is quoted as saying on Sauber’s official website.

“We will also have a software improvement, which will enable us to use the potential of the power unit in a better way.”

This will give Sauber a very busy Friday of practice at the Circuit de Catalunya while tuning the set-up to the new package.

“Making the best use of the tyre compounds will also be a challenge, as Pirelli’s choice was to allocate Medium and Hard tyres appears to be conservative,” Dall’Ara added. “We very much look forward to converting everyone’s’ efforts into improved lap times.”

Quite how much of a performance yield the upgrade package will bring remains to be seen, however, with Dall’Ara acknowledging that the Spanish Grand Prix typically presents the entire field with its first real opportunity to try out a number of development parts.

“We know that all the other teams around us are progressing as well, so it will be interesting to where we stand. We will certainly do our best in order to race for points,” he added.

The team will also field reserve driver Giedo van der Garde in the opening free practice session, replacing Esteban Gutiérrez.

Following the Spanish Grand Prix, the field will have another two-day in-season test session, with van der Garde and Gutiérrez having a day apiece behind the wheel.